Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – The results of the latest economic survey from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce chime with our most recent survey of Scottish Building Federation members.
This shows industry confidence continuing to slide backwards, down 34 points in the past year.
In this challenging economic climate, we will continue to plead the case for more capital investment.
I recognise the efforts Scottish ministers are making in the face of tough budgetary constraints.
However, there’s no escaping the fact that the Scottish Government is due to spend £2.2 billion less on capital projects over the next three years than it has over the past three. That’s a reduction of 23%.
At a time when there are still few signs of life in the private sector we must strain every sinew to commit more public resources towards building the infrastructure our economy needs to recover.
Meanwhile, too much unnecessary cost and bureaucracy remains built into the system for awarding public sector construction contracts in Scotland.
There is an urgent need to overhaul public procurement to make it fit for purpose and get the industry building again.
Michael Levack.Chief Executive,SBF,Crichton House,Holyrood,Edinburgh.
No half-price electricity in US
Sir, – To quote Mr Cross from his letter of October 11: ”Shale gas has transformed the American economy and electricity prices are half of what they were four years ago.”
Can he explain to me how the US economy has been transformed? I live there and have seen no difference.
Where are electricity prices half of where they were four years ago?
There is no national price for electricity, it is not even priced at a state level. It is priced by the private or municipal provider and is dependent on a variety of factors not just the base fuel.
To say electricity prices in America are half what they were four years ago is totally wrong.
I cannot understand this rush for fracking which is a proven hazard in certain situations while wind power only hurts the eyes.
Eric Swinney.101 Creekwood Drive,Lafayette,Louisiana, USA.
Shale gas a no-brainer
Sir, – It is not often I agree with Clark Cross on green matters, but he is right about shale gas (Letters, October 11). I am all for carbon-free alternatives, but am under no illusions about their current shortcomings.
It is clear that it will be some time before they are able to deliver. In the meantime we have no option but to use fossil fuels and, of these, gas is the cleanest, safest and with the lowest carbon content.
Being the least of the evils available shale gas is a no-brainer, the objections to fracking are silly and discredited, and the opposition of ”green” groups is perverse.
Dr Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Great Sankey,Warrington, Cheshire.
Cursing the cursor
Sir, – I read an article in The Courier on October 1 from a man who was having trouble with the cursor on his iPad. I can sympathise with him.
Last year my daughter gave me an iPad as a present and it drives me crazy! The only thing I can be sure of getting is the news. Everything else, it has a mind of its own.
Yesterday I decided to write an email. Eventually the correct page appeared, complete with cursor, but it took me half an hour to get the cursor on the correct spot.
I then typed out the email, sent it, and the recipient received it within minutes.
Is this ”malfunction” peculiar to Angus?
I find it most frustrating.
Mrs M Main.Arbroath.
Too early to sell fireworks
Sir, – I am wondering why so many supermarkets and small retailers are already selling fireworks?
Guy Fawkes Night is several weeks away and already fireworks are being set off at night in my area and I am sure many other areas of the country.
Fireworks cause an incredible amount of distress to small animals and really should be kept for the fifth of November and not a considerable time before it.
I can only see this as a commercial decision by retailers struggling to keep up with hard times but three weeks early is really a bit much.
Gordon Kennedy.117 Simpson Square,Perth.
Only read one page at a time
Sir, – Ian F McRae (October 11) dismisses e-book readers as, unlike a paper based book, they don’t open up with two pages facing each other. I have no such problem with my e-reader as I can only read one page at a time!
GM Lindsay.Whinfield Gardens,Kinross.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.